John Tworoger

Class Year:

1965

Outstanding Alumni Award Winner 2005

Owner of Aspen Properties in San Diego, Calif., John Tworoger '65 has parlayed a degree in psychology and chemistry from North Central, and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California, into a highly successful career as a commercial, industrial and residential property developer in California and Texas.

Preparing to return to the College to receive the 2005 Outstanding Alumnus Award, Tworoger said he reflected on his undergraduate years.

"What did I learn at North Central? How did it help me survive, spiritually, emotionally and mentally?" he asked himself. "A lot of the things George St. Angelo said stayed with me," he stated, recalling the immense impact the Rev. St. Angelo '43 had on his generation's awareness of what was going on in the world, including injustice.

Tworoger also felt very well prepared academically. "Mentally, North Central made me tough. I went to graduate school with a lot of Stanford guys, and I felt very comfortable."

Today, Tworoger's firm oversees in excess of 8 million square feet of property throughout San Diego County in California and in Austin, Texas. He also manages 1.2 million square feet of office buildings, medical and industrial buildings under construction in San Diego and an additional 2 million square feet of office and mixed-use property in the Austin area, also under active development.

He is controller and also serves on the board of directors of Spectrum Property Management, serves on the board of Rancho Bernardo Association, and is president of two planned industrial developments.

A member of the College's Board of Trustees, Tworoger made it possible for a company employee with great potential to attend North Central several years ago.

He was happy to report that some things don't change. When asked about the experience, his protégé replied, "They always went the extra mile."